From the discussions above this study adopts the Analytic conflict theory. Specifically Analytic conflict theory explores the social structures and conditions that affect women or the disadvantaging of women, in all societies , which affect them negatively. In this theory, there are explanations based on why women are oppressed in what they do and this introduces them to health complications that put them in an unprivileged position and reduces their well-being. These areas are framed in four levels of; gender difference, gender inequality; oppression and structural oppression.
In gender difference, it defines the position of the women; women’s location in, and experience of, most situations, is different from that of the men in those situations. The natural division is justified in the name of nature: sex being considered the most essential difference amongst species. And this often goes under the guise of culture, culture becomes the excuse for inequality as people use obscure and ill-defined cultural norms and assert unequal power exhibited by women and men (Johnson , 1988). This inequality can snowball to an extent where the less powerful become oppressed, essentially invisible (Johnson, 1988) .In small-scale quarry mining , power inequalities for poor rural women in the developing countries in particular can be viewed as, their lack of financial resources to own small mine enterprises; and then are employed in predominantly manual (mechanically unaided) and back breaking chores, such as carrying 40-50kg head load or panning in knee-deep crater for hours. This imbalance of power between women and men is greatest in developing countries like Nigeria(ILO,2003). It has been widely demonstrated that poverty accelerates and increases gender inequalities, as small-scale mining predominates in developing countries attracting under-privileged people; it follows that this represents a repository of poor people and it can be assumed that poverty here is associated with extreme forms of gender inequality. This can be related to the women who work in small-scale quarry mines of the developing nations, where there are reduced self-actualization being hindered by their global placement in the rural areas. This explains why local women are most often in the weakest and poorest circumstances, in traditional cultures, such as those in the remote regions of underdeveloped nations ( Joan 1990; Hentschel 2001 ). The second one is that of gender inequality where women’s location in most situations is not only different from but also less privileged than or unequal to that of men. On gender oppression, there is a direct power relationship between men and women through which women are restrained, subordinated, molded, used and abused by men. And in structural oppression women’s experience of difference, inequality, and oppression varies according to their location within; class, race, ethnicity, age, affect ional preference, marital status, and global location. These levels of women’s subjugation and discrimination have helped to put the women on the type of work in which they do like quarry mining which produces other undesirable situations in the society for them.
As had been identified, women and men are positioned in society not only differently but at the same time unequally. And in this positioning women get less of the material resources, social status, power, and opportunities for self-actualization than men. And equally this positioning which leads to inequality emanates from the organization of society and extends to other activities that create further undesirable conditions in most cases. The most powerful organizational positions are almost entirely occupied by men, with the exception of the occasional biological female who acts as a social man (Sorenson,1990). Analytic conflict theory then explains how gender inequality, gender difference, oppression and structural oppression bring about women’s general location in the society. And this is extended to women especially rural women being less privileged in the society, which leads to poverty, lack of formal education and professional skills. This is why poor women work in quarry mines as an avenue for survival despite the health hazards that occur in such settings. Molan (1999) identified that lower socio-economic status of women bring about inequalities in all areas, including being introduced to undesirable work and working conditions that affect their health. He observed that the relationship between material deprivation, work women do and health outcomes appears to be crucial. Women in less well off socio-economic groupings have consistently been shown to be the most disadvantaged with regard to the kind of work they get involved in and their health experiences ( Mackinnon 1979; ILO 1991; Matozi 2003 ). Considering the experiences of women quarry miners in developing countries, studies have shown that they are exposed to; unfavorable working conditions, sexual exploitation, lack of safety measures, long working hours, fatigue, and are equally being under paid ( Mackinnon 2003; Matozi 2003; Carr 2003 ). In particular, Espino & Azar (2002) identified that women in small-scale quarry mining continue to earn lower salaries and have both less social security coverage as well as less opportunities; and these women in Africa are not provided security by the law nor by the trade unions who only protect their own interest. Consequently, experiences of the rural women in Africa, who work in most of these quarry mines can be related to their global location (Amazigbo, 1994 ) . They are located where they are faced with the quarry mine pits as the major work in the rural areas where they are found outside the seasonal agricultural work; and their position in the unorganized, privately owned quarry mines can be viewed on their activities in these pit mines as they work beyond the normal work hours, have no crèche facilities ( Triest 1998; UNESCO 2003 ). Due to the fact that these women need to keep their job, they are exposed to the exploitation, physical and sexual, of the mine owners, contractors and other men; as well as occupational illnesses, uniquely associated with participating in the quarry mines ( World development report 1998; World Bank 1999; Venter 2001 ).
Research Hypotheses.
Following from the theoretical framework, the following hypotheses are formulated.
General hypothesis: participation of women in the privately owned small-scale quarry mines reduces their well-being.
Hypotheses on specific relationship
1. Poor women are more likely to work in small-scale quarry mines than relatively well to do women.
2. Rural women who are not professionally skilled in most cases have the propensity to work at the quarry mine.
3. The unorganized nature of the privately owned quarry mine push women quarry workers to irregular work hours at the mine sites compared to their male counterpart.
4. Lack of bargaining power of women quarry workers exposes them to low wages
5. Rural poor women who work in the quarry mines are exposed to sexual exploitation
6. Lack of monitoring of the workers condition in the quarry mines by the government agents, lead to the quarry owners neglect of their social responsibilities to the quarry workers.
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